Improvement in gas-governo



UNITED" STATES v REUBEN H. PLASS, OF nEw VYORK, N. Y.

' lMPR-OV EMENT lN GAS-G'OVERNQRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 177,745, dated May 23, 1876; application tiled April 21, 1814.

. To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, REUBEN H. PLASS, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve- .ments in Gas or Air Governors; and I do hereby declare theli'ollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the annexed drawing, making part of this specification, and by which is shown a vertical set tiozi through the operative parts of said governor.

'My invention relates to that class of gas- 'regulators in which the movement of a flexi-v ble diaphragm regulates the size of the opening through which the gas flows and my invention consists in constructing the different parts of the regulator as fully described hereafter, to insure greater sensitiveness and accuracy, to facilitate-adjustment to suit differe'nt pressures, and to render the apparatus more durable, and adapt it for attachment to inlet-pipes occupying different posit-ions.

In the accompanying drawing, which is a sectional elevation of my improvedregulator, A is the lowersection: of the outer casing, being-tubular in form at the lower part, where it is provided with three threaded ways or branches, E E{ G, and expanded in diameter at the top,- to form, with the upper section-A .a shallow chamber, F, divided horizontally by i a flexible diaphragm, A, the edge of which is clampedbetwen the flanges b b of the two sections.

The under side ofthe diaphragm, which may be of leather, rubber, or other suitable material, is protected by a facing of tin-foil or other flexible metallic coating, and through the center of the diaphragm passes the threaded end*of a valve-spindle, B, nuts 0 0 upon which bear upon washersd d and clamp the dia phragm between them, and secure the valvespindle to the same.

The valve-spindle B passes through guides or bearings I J, arranged one above and the other one in a line with the outlet, below a.

. partition, F, dividing the lower portion of the case, and having an opening, D, to which. is

adapted avalve, 0, attached to the spindle.

The said valve is of the rounded tapering form shown in the drawing, and has at the lower Between the valve 0 and the diaphragm the valve-stem B is divided, and provided with a universal joint, h, for the purpose described hereafter. A screw-plug, K, is adapted to both the branches E E, to either ofwhich the inletpipe may be connected, the plug being then inserted in the other, thus rendering the apparatus' readily attachable to either vertical or horizontal inlet-pipes. The valve is adjusted and the diaphragm is loaded to permit the freepassage'of gas at its minimum. pressure. As thepressure increases the diaphragm is raised, elevating the'valve and contracting the opening, so that as the gas is condensed the volume permitted to pass through the regulator isreduced, insuring a uniform supply to the burners, however the pressure may vary. The loading of the diaphragm by weights H insures a constant pressure there- -on, in place-of the variable tension which re- 1 sults from the use of springs, as usual,

In order to insure accuracy of operation it is absolutely necessary that the valve-shall be maintained central with the valve-opening. It is alsofne ce ary that the diaghragm be allowed perfect Ireedom {in its moveme nts-that is, that it be at liberty to rise at one sideor the other, which it 113.838. tendency to do under some circumstancesf-while it is just as essential that there shall be no vertical play or movement of the diaphragm independently of the valve. 1 eifect these results by employing guides above and below the valve, thus maintaining.thelatter central with the opening, and by v making the valve-stem in sections, united by a universal joint, which permits perfect freedom of movement to the upper section and to the diaphragm, while there is no play between the parts-that will alter the relative vertical adjustment of the valveand the diaphragm.

The case L, overhanging the cap A and perforated beneath, is a most desirable feature of my invention, as'thereby'the-air is admit' ted above the diaphragm, while the opening by dust or dirt falling into 'it.

I claim v 1. The combination, in a gas-regulator, of

nected by a universal joint, and a flexible -diaphragm secured :tothc upper section of the stem, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A gas-regulator, the case of which is provided with an outlet-branch, G, and with two inlet-branches, E E, arranged at right angles to each other, and each adapted to receive a detachable plug. K, for the purpose described. is so protected that it cannot: be+ obstructed 3. Theacombinatioir of the cap A and an overhanging casing, L, perforated at its under side, as and for the purpose set forth.

- REUBEN H. PLASS.

Witnesses: i

Amos BROAJJNAX, L. GQIGARRETTSON. 

